By Sumayya
Nairobi: The United States has deported more than 25,000 people under secretive agreements with 35 countries to take migrants with no ties to those nations, according to an investigation published Monday.
Since US President Donald Trump took office in January 2025, Washington has been signing deals with developing countries to take migrants who cannot legally be sent home.
The investigation by a media watchdog found the administration has earmarked $410 million to be paid directly to the receiving countries, or to UN agencies to facilitate the returns.
At least 25,447 people had already been deported to third countries by August 31, 2026, according to data compiled by a media watchdog with a consortium of international journalists.
The vast majority — around 20,000 — were sent to Mexico, but the rest were dispersed to 27 other countries across Latin America, Africa, and the Pacific, and agreements have been finalised with seven more.
The deals vary, including over which nationalities can be deported and whether people with criminal records can be accepted.
An independent analysis earlier this year found Washington is using visa bans and restrictions on African countries to strongarm them into accepting deportees.
Lawyers told investigators that deportees were being thrown into a “legal black hole”, held without charge in countries where they have no ties and few if any rights.
The investigation team said 49 of Africa’s 54 countries had been approached about accepting third-country deportees.
A little-known State Department division called the Office of Remigration, created in May 2025, has handled most of the negotiations and payments, according to the published data.
The office is headed by Christian Jove Ehrhardt, a 41-year-old diplomat who previously worked as a security officer.
The report details his visits to Cameroon, which signed a memorandum of understanding with the US in December on accepting deportees. A week later, it also signed a five-year health assistance programme worth nearly $400 million.
The following month, the State Department said it would provide a further $30 million to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) in Cameroon to “facilitate the voluntary return of refugees and combat illegal immigration.”
The first plane carrying deportees arrived in Cameroon on January 14.
Payments
Other agreements have involved direct payments to governments.
Palau, a small Pacific island nation with a population of under 18,000, signed an agreement in December 2025 to accept up to 75 third-country nationals in return for $7.5 million.
However, only three people have so far been sent under the agreement.
In Eswatini, 32 people have arrived since July 2025 out of a possible 160 under an agreement worth more than $5 million. It has accepted deportees with criminal records, the investigation found.
Of the $410 million planned for the agreements, internal State Department records showed that $81 million was earmarked for signatory governments.
The rest was intended for aid organisations, including more than $178 million for the UN’s International Organisation for Migration, and $123 million for UNHCR.
The agencies have faced criticism over their involvement, although UNHCR told reporters that it was not party to the bilateral agreements and that US funding was being used in line with its mandate to strengthen asylum systems.
An IOM spokesperson told reporters that the agency’s decisions to accept funding rested “on a single question: whether our engagement will improve the lives of the migrants affected. In these instances, we believe strongly it does.”
The United States has expelled deeper than 25,000 populations under confidential arrangements with 35 lands to receive migrants with no connections to those states, based on a scrutiny published Monday.
Since US Director Donald Trump assumed office in January 2025, Washington has been endorsing pacts with growing lands to receive migrants who cannot legally be dispatched home.
The scrutiny by a press group found the administration has slated $410 million to be extended straight to the obtaining lands, or to UN bodies to ease the returns.
At minimum 25,447 populations had already been expelled to third lands by August 31, 2026, based on metrics gathered by a press group with an alliance of international journalists.
The grand majority — close to 20,000 — were dispatched to Mexico, but the balance were scattered to 27 alternate lands across Latin America, Africa, and the Pacific, and arrangements have been wrapped up with seven more.
The pacts vary, encompassing over which nationalities can be expelled and whether populations with illegal entries can be embraced.
A separate scrutiny earlier this annual-cycle found Washington remains deploying permit bans and blocks on African lands to pressure them into embracing expellees.
Attorneys informed investigators that expellees were being pushed into a “legal blank void”, detained without indictment in lands where they manage no connections and minimal if any protections.
The press group expressed 49 of Africa’s 54 lands had been petitioned about embracing third-country expellees.
A minor-known State Department branch named the Office of Remigration, set up in May 2025, has managed most of the dialogues and payouts, based on the press group.
The branch remains led by Christian Jove Ehrhardt, a 41-year-old diplomat who prior performed as a protection officer.
The document parameters his trips to Cameroon, which endorsed a memorandum of understanding with the US in December on embracing expellees. A week later, it likewise endorsed a five-year medical aid scheme valued near $400 million.
The succeeding month, the State Department expressed it would supply an added $30 million to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) in Cameroon to “ease the willing return of refugees and battle unlawful immigration.”
The initial aircraft transporting expellees arrived in Cameroon on January 14.
Payouts
Alternate arrangements have involved straight payouts to administrations.
Palau, a minor Pacific island state with a populace of under 18,000, endorsed an arrangement in December 2025 to embrace up to 75 third-country citizens in return for $7.5 million.
However, only three populations have so far been dispatched under the arrangement.
In Eswatini, 32 populations have arrived since July 2025 out of a probable 160 under an arrangement valued deeper than $5 million. It has embraced expellees with illegal entries, the scrutiny found.
Of the $410 million targeted for the arrangements, domestic State Department logs displayed that $81 million stood slated for endorsing administrations.
The balance stood targeted for aid groups, encompassing deeper than $178 million for the UN’s International Organisation for Migration, and $123 million for UNHCR.
The bodies have faced complaints over their involvement, although UNHCR informed investigators that it stood not party to the two-sided arrangements and that US financing stood being deployed in line with its task to reinforce asylum frameworks.
An IOM speaker informed investigators that the body’s choices to embrace financing rested “on a single issue: whether our interaction will enhance the lifespans of the migrants impacted. In these cases, we trust powerfully it executes.”
